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Chatterbox Spring 2019

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, May 30, 2019 4:55 PM

evening

Ns was clear when I left work.Had to go into town after work.Csx has a grain train at the elevator west of town.They will need another engine unless they want to take the train long hood forward.The ND&W yard is coming along as well.Matt is doing dishes tonight.Glad tomorrow is Friday.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by blhanel on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 8:50 PM

Managed to mow most of my "swamp" this evening, but got interrupted by tornado sirens.  They've now been activated twice, but for storms skirting us to the south.  This active weather pattern is really getting old... Sigh

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 4:29 PM

afternoon

Local was uptown when I left work.Came home and mowed the swamp.Guessers say maybe not as much rain as first though tomorrow.We will see.Family is all safe from the tornadoes that came.My niece and family are staying with Sis until the power comes back on.Matt has one test to take tomorrow.Then he will be a senior.Oh my.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 2:51 PM

Classic general store.  I've run across a few old time hardware/general stores in a few small towns on the back roads of Michigan.

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 2:33 PM

Bob. I sold arm-powered nailers to the general public. Also, if your horse needed  a new collar, I could help you on that--and I had plow points, dried beans, candy, tobacco products, yard goods (if your wife needed to make some new clothes), canned goods, school supplies, shoes, sacks, hall-sacks, and quarter-sacks of flour, and so on.  I loaded cow feed, cottonseed meal, fertilizer. 

Johnny

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 2:20 PM

Johnny,

 

Sold pneumatic nailers and staplers for 40 + years to the construction trades. Never sold 'bulk' nails & staples

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 1:40 PM

Bob, when I sold staples and nails, I raked them out of their bins into bags and weighed the bags. Hoseshoe nails were sold from the boxes they came in. Nails and horseshoes came in 100 pound kegs--the nails were difficult to get out of the kegs. I still have one of the kegs that I emptied about 1951.

Johnny

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 12:40 PM
Good bet Carl, it was a 16 gauge staple used in the construction of homes. Sold thousands of cases over the years and have had a few flats as well from them.
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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 10:09 AM

Oh my! I did not think of staples for boxes--perhaps because I never used such. I still use staples for paper, and I have used the other two I mentioned to hold wire to posts--and I have used the smaller ones with hardware cloth.

Johnny

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 9:16 AM

Deggesty

Say, Carl, what kind of staple was that in your tire--paper staple, chicken wire staple or hog wire staple? Certainly not a staple grocery--do you remember stores that sold staple and fancy groceries?



No clue, Johnny--Pat wasn't given the privilege of seeing it when she picked up the car (with her bare hands, I might add!).  I'm guessing it was the kind that hold boxes together.  We could have picked it up anywhere...but definitely not in our driveway or garage!

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by diningcar on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 8:23 AM

Tornado in eastern Lawrence and on toward Kansas City missed us as we live in west Lawrence. Lots of property damage and personal injuries reported but thus far no fatalities.

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Posted by Deggesty on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 8:13 AM

Say, Carl, what kind of staple was that in your tire--paper staple, chicken wire staple or hog wire staple? Certainly not a staple grocery--do you remember stores that sold staple and fancy groceries?

Johnny

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 7:59 AM

CN in Flint has Geeps #4900, 4915 and 4916 as yard equipment, all with sub-lettering for GTW. But what suprised me were the two standard cab SD's in I think the 5900 class? pulling a mixed stack train with other stuff that are getting parked in Flint. Any idea what I've been seeing the last couple weeks?.....  And only 3 days to go!!!

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Posted by BaltACD on Wednesday, May 29, 2019 7:43 AM

Got home 3 PM yesterday after have been gone nearly 2 weeks.  With the continual showers that home had received during my absense - the grass was high - higher than I like to see it.  I had no intentions of cutting it, however, looking at the weather guessers forecast - thundershowers during the night.  I reasoned, that after dinner was the best opportunity I would have in the near future - lawn as dry as it would get for the foreseeable future.  The lawn taxed the mowers horsepower, but the grass got cut.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by CShaveRR on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 11:17 PM

Paul's right...one has to run between the raindrops around here to do anything.  We had a good shower this afternoon, and now another wave, with accompanying lightning bolts, has arrived.  That's okay...I don't have anything to do tomorrow that I'm aware of, except pick up some medication in the afternoon.

We had a soft tire yesterday and today (thank Goodness for the instrumentation on this car, or we may not have known about it until it was too late!).  I took the car in for a patch job...of all things, it was a staple that had punctured it!  But after dropping the car off this morning, I went to do some train travel and watching.  

It was a weird day, and not the slow session I would have expected on a post-holiday Tuesday.  Today's morning rush was decimated by a pedestrian incident in Villa Park (from what I heard, there wasn't much left of him).  But the train action in Elmhurst was virtually nonstop for the three hours or more that I was there--the first hour brought at least eight trains.

After grabbing lunch (taken trackside so I didn't miss the freight that had been lined up), I went to Oak Park, and it was just as busy on that side of the yard.  In fact, Pat called me ten minutes before my scoot came in to (a) check if I was coming home soon so she could pick me up and (b) let me know that it was raining in Lombard.  It hadn't started in Oak Park just yet.  In thse ten minutes, though, it did begin, and two manifests--one in each direction--went through ahead of my scoot!  I've wound up with a worthwhile colection of sightings for what should be my last report of the month.

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by mudchicken on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 9:51 PM

Balt: hope your family and DC were bypassed between Lawrence and KC,KS by Ma Nature on a bender. As I left work tonight at 7pm, the news feeds were going nuts about eastern Kansas. ( One of the local TV stations [CBS 4] had major issues for about an hour this morning with the weather warning tones going off without a valid message. Omen? Pushed the panic button too many times this last week? Weird - trained to look for the crawler at the bottom of the screen and ....nothing.)

T-Storms, rain and hail are rare after dark around here, but the last five days have been the exception to the rule.

Hara Arena (1964 - last night? ) was some 40 miles north of where Electroliner and I grew up .... an older facility compared to most, it was derelict and had a date with the wrecker's ball so it could join contemporary Cincinnati Garden (1949-2016) as a faded memory...One heckuva last dance for Hara that began life as a ballroom and morphed in size...

 

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by BaltACD on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 8:47 PM

tree68
Watched it get very dark to the south of Deshler, but that cell stayed south with it's sizeable hail.

We got almost a half inch of rain this morning - not that we need it either.  At least the major stuff is staying south...

A major amateur radio event each year is the Dayton Hamfest.  It was moved to Xenia a couple of years ago.  Last night's storms took the roof off it's former home, the Hara Arena in Dayton.  

Went through Dayton on I-70 about 0830 - didn't see any evidence of a tornado.  Hara Arena looks to be a couple of miles South of I-70.  Didn't see any wet pavement.

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by tree68 on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 6:54 PM

Watched it get very dark to the south of Deshler, but that cell stayed south with it's sizeable hail.

We got almost a half inch of rain this morning - not that we need it either.  At least the major stuff is staying south...

A major amateur radio event each year is the Dayton Hamfest.  It was moved to Xenia a couple of years ago.  Last night's storms took the roof off it's former home, the Hara Arena in Dayton.  

 

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by JoeKoh on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 4:45 PM

evening

Ns sent an eastbound autorack train after work.Not so good for my old hometown.(Celina) Tornadoes and plenty of damage.Family is ok as far as I know.Great Nephew got his CSX t shirt and hat.Someday he can go watch with Uncle Joe.Chores to do.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 9:35 AM
It was fascinating, last late evening, watching tornados start to form, than the funnel get maybe 1/3 of the way to the ground and then just simply disappear. . . In Southwest Michigan, northeast of Elkhart, In.
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Posted by CSSHEGEWISCH on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 7:39 AM

As Carl will attest, rain has been an issue around here for the last few weeks.  I got out to Berwyn yesterday and had a good outing. Among other things, saw two unit trains, one EB Bakken crude and one WB coal empties.  I did cut the day a little short because of rain getting close.  It was short but heavy in our neck of the woods but some other areas got it worse (flooding and at least two tornados).

The daily commute is part of everyday life but I get two rides a day out of it. Paul
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Posted by blue streak 1 on Sunday, May 26, 2019 11:12 PM

CSX has started what may be some strange signaling around here.  CSX here has had the usual siding exit signals at siding CPs. == The main line that leads to the single track at both ends of siding has a 4 light signal head with green/yellow/ red/ white.  The signaled siding exits both ends to the single track has a single head continous red head and below the same 4 light green/ yellow/ red/ white as the main line..  

Now CSX just installed single light heads below the 4 light signal head  for the main track which at present is turned away so have no idea what color this light will be or if it will be continous lit as the other heads.  This arrangement is at both ends of the siding. 

Any ideas?  PTC possibly although PTC is fully operation AFAIK.?   Also we now have some DPU trains usually 2 x 1 x 0

.Note the exit luna is a restricting aspect that only illuminates when there is a leading train clearring the CP and a following train will be going the same direction then W changes to Y once the end of leading train clears next block signal.

Another note:  CP displays for siding entrance signals has a G/Y/R head then Y/R head then G/R/L head.  The L is for restricting speed for either the main or siding occupancy. 

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, May 26, 2019 9:38 PM

evening

Rain stopped this afternoon.Was able to get to the graduation party.The yard was a bit muddy and swampy but we all had a good time.Family was pointing at us for next year with Matt.Mamma was taking notes.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by tree68 on Sunday, May 26, 2019 6:46 AM

There were certainly a lot of folks at the park in Deshler Saturday, judging by what I saw on the webcams.  I did see the CN units doing their dosido.

Rained here all afternoon - 0.67" with a little lightning to boot.  It's starting to hurt the farmers, and the lake and river are at record levels.  Maybe we'll see spring or summer one of these days.  Hope I'm not busy that day.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by JoeKoh on Sunday, May 26, 2019 6:01 AM

morning

Mother nature sent a wake up call.Deshler was fun yesterday.We did have a storm roll through.The bad stuff stayed to the south of Deshler.It delayed a local.Lima sent up a rescue train.It was 2 cn units but the back unit couldn't be a leader.They used they wyes in Deshler to turn it around.Going to be careful going to great nieces graduation today.Matt has to do dishes tonight.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Saturday, May 25, 2019 5:00 PM

Similar problems at my home town on Lake Michigan.  The levels aren't at their record highs, but the city is shutting down its docks, because they're unusable, if not completely submerged (we're talking along the Grand River and Spring Lake, close to the mouth of the river).  

My sister and family live several miles up the river, and the marshy areas around there are submerged, making the river really look wide at this point (it is still navigable; buoys are placed every year).  Their own dock floats above the water line, but I think it's reached its tethered limits.

As for the lake itself, it's become quite a dropoff to the Lake from where the waves have cut into the first row of dunes (up by our cottage in the Land of No Trains).

Carl

Railroader Emeritus (practiced railroading for 46 years--and in 2010 I finally got it right!)

CAACSCOCOM--I don't want to behave improperly, so I just won't behave at all. (SM)

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Posted by tree68 on Saturday, May 25, 2019 3:40 PM

BaltACD
During my trek from Maryland to Kansas, saw many fields that looked like lakes.  

We have the same problem here - and a small system just came through that dropped another half inch of rain in less than three hours.

We also have the issues with Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River, which just hit record high levels.  This doesn't impact agriculture, as such, but raises Cain with tourism, as many docks are under water.  And tourism almost outranks agriculture as an economic driver here.

Tens of thousands of sandbags have already been distributed.

LarryWhistling
Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) 
Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you
My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date
Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, May 25, 2019 8:03 AM

rvos1979
Very strange to see so many fields around here not planted this late in the season. Talked with some farmer friends, if it doesn't dry up by end of May, corn won't be planted, and if this keeps up through the middle of June, soybeans won't go in either.........
I foresee a lot of farm auctions later this year.............

During my trek from Maryland to Kansas, saw many fields that looked like lakes.  

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

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Posted by rvos1979 on Saturday, May 25, 2019 6:10 AM

Very strange to see so many fields around here not planted this late in the season. Talked with some farmer friends, if it doesn't dry up by end of May, corn won't be planted, and if this keeps up through the middle of June, soybeans won't go in either.........

I foresee a lot of farm auctions later this year.............

Randy Vos

"Ever have one of those days where you couldn't hit the ground with your hat??" - Waylon Jennings

"May the Lord take a liking to you and blow you up, real good" - SCTV

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Posted by JoeKoh on Friday, May 24, 2019 2:44 PM

afternoon

Well mother nature sent some more rain today.Got errands done today.Things are ready for Deshler tomorrow.Guessers say "scattered showers".Matt is leaving to do dishes.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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